NNTRC Venom Collection

Venom extractions are handled only by the Curator and a few, specially trained NNTRC personnel.

Visitors are discouraged during extraction times to minimize distractions during the process.

Venoms are extracted by allowing the snake to bite into a paraffin stretched over a disposable, sterile container. It is not the practice of the NNTRC to massage the venom glands to release more venom.

Some smaller snakes are placed into clear tubes for better handling during extractions.

Each venom sample is clarified by centrifugation (500 x g for 10 min), filtered through a 0.45 µm filter under positive pressure and then frozen at -90ºC until it is lyophilized.

Venoms collected a the NNTRC are not pooled unless requested by a researcher. Each snake's venom is collected separately and only stored with previous samples from the same snake, using their unique Avid numbers for reference.

The frequency of venom extraction per snake is about once a week to once a month, species and size depending. Size is also a factor in how much venom an extraction from a specific snake is able to yield.

The NNTRC will sell its collected, lyophilized venoms to reputable researchers who have passed a background check.

To view the list of current venoms available in our inventory, please visit our Venom List, or call (361) 593-3082 for more information about venoms, fractions and other venom components available from the NNTRC.